Lantern mounting bracket for boats



July 9, 1963 M. w. POWELL 3,096,961

LANTERN MOUNTING BRACKET FOR BOATS Filed June 16, 1961 Milton W P0 well INVENTOR.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lantern holders for use particularly, although not necessarily, by night fishermen and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a holder of this character which is adapted to safely and firmly support a conventional lantern in a lowered position on the outside of a boat, in which position the lantern is maintained by gravity.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved lantern holder of the aforementioned character which will permit the lantern to be swung inwardly in a manner to rest on the gunwale of the boat to facilitate servicing and for other purposes.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a fishermans lantern holder or bracket which is readily maneuverable and which comprises a novel construction and arrangement of reflector for providing improved visibility where needed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a holder of the character described which is adapted to firmly support a lantern in an upright position on land.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a lantern holder of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a lantern holder constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation, showing the device in use on the gunwale of a boat, said gunwale being shown in cross-section; and

FIGURE 3 is a top plan View thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises a conventional C-clamp of suitable dimensions which is designated generally by reference numeral 4. The clamp 4 is adapted to be mounted transversely on the gunwale 5 of a boat 6 in the manner shown to advantage in FIGURE 2 of the drawing. Fixed on the stationary jaw 7 of the clamp 4 and projecting horizontally therefrom is an arm 8. Fixed vertically on the arm 8 is a tubular bearing or sleeve 9 the upper end of which is beveled in a manner to provide a cam 10.

Rotatably, slidably and removably mounted in the sleeve 9 is a vertical metallic rod or shaft 11. The shaft 11 terminates in a sharpened or pointed lower end portion 12. The shaft or rod 11 further includes a reversely bent upper end portion 13. Fixed on the shaft 11 adjacent the bend 14 thereof is a collar 15 the lower end portion of which is beveled in a manner to provide a cam 16 which is engageable with the cam for positioning the rod or shaft 11 as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing by gravity. Of course, the collar 15, resting on the sleeve 9, also supports the rod or shaft 11 on the clamp 4.

Fixed horizontally on the terminal of the end portion 13 of the rod or shaft 11 is a metallic bracket 17 for receiving thereon the base or bottom portion 18 of a conventional lantern 19. The bracket 17 is of the spider type ie States Patent 0 3,096,961 Patented July 9, 1963 and includes on certain of its end portions angulated lugs or hooks 20 which receive the base 18 of the lantern. The bracket 17 further includes, on its remaining end, an upturned apertured ear 21 having threaded therethrough a clamping screw 22 engageable with the lantern base 18 and cooperable with the lugs 20 for firmly but removably securing the lantern in position. Secured on the underside of the bracket 17 is a generally inverted U- shaped saddle 23 the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

Mounted on the portion 13 of the rod or shaft 11, adjacent the bend 14, is a generally U-shaped reflector 24 of suitable metal for the lantern 19. The member 24 also functions as a shield or shade for the occupants of the boat. The reflector 24 comprises flared or outwardly curved end portions 25. The reflector 24 further coinprises circumferentially spaced holes or opening 26 for the passage of divergent light rays or beams into the boat.

It is thought that the use of the holder will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the clamp 4 is secured on the boat gunwale 5 and the rod 11, with the lantern 19 secured on the bracket 17, is inserted downwardly through the sleeve 9. Through the medium of the coacting cams 10 and 16- the lantern is caused to automatically assume the position shown where it is retained against idle swinging movement by gravity in an obvious manner. The reflector 24 projects the light from the lantern outwardly in the usual manner and also functions as a shade. However, suflicient light for the needs of the occupants of the boat is had through the openings 26. Should it be desired to mount the lantern on the gunwale of the boat for servicing, projecting the light forwardly or for any other purpose, this is readily accomplished by lifting said lantern and swinging same through an arc of degrees in either direction, the rod 11 sliding upwardly and turning in the sleeve 9. When the lantern is positioned over the gunwale 5, said lantern is lowered for causing the saddle 23 to straddle said gunwale. Thus, the lantern is secured in position on the boat gunwale. Or, the lantern may be swung inwardly degrees beyond the gunwale and lowered. When in this position the saddle 23 parallels the boat gunwale and straddles the clamp 4 on which the bracket 17 rests. The lantern may be removed when it is not needed by simply lifting the rod 11 out of the sleeve 9, leaving the clamp 9 in position on the boat, if desired. Also, for land use the rod 11, when removed from the clamp 4, may be driven into the ground for supporting the lantern. Still further, the rod or shaft 11 is sufliciently bendable to permit the position of the lantern to be adjusted.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A lantern holder comprising a clamp for mounting on a boat gunwale, a vertical sleeve on the clamp, a vertical rod rotatably and slidably mounted in said sleeve and comprising a reversely bent upper end portion, a horizontal bracket on said reversed end portion of said rod for supporting a lantern in one position outwardly of the gunwale and adapted to rest on the guanwale for supporting the lantern in at least one other position thereon, means for releasably retaining the bracket in said one position, and means for releasably securing the bracket in said other position.

2. A lantern holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first named means includes coacting lower and upper cams fixed, respectively, on the clamp and the rod, said upper cam engaged by gravity with the lower cam for actuation thereby.

3. A lantern holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second-named'means includes a saddle mounted on the bracket and adapted to straddle the gunwale.

4. A lantern holder comprising a clamp for mounting on a gunwale, a vertical rod on said clamp, a lantern bracket on said rod, and, a generally U-shaped combination shade and reflector for a lantern mounted on the rod above the bracket and in vertically spaced relation thereto, said reflector having circumferentially spaced, divergent openings therein for the limited rearward passage of light beams from the lantern.

5. A fishermans lantern holder comprising, in combination, a C-clamp for mounting transversely on a boat gunwale, a vertical sleeve on the outer end portion of said clamp, a vertical rod removably and slidably adjustably mounted in the sleeve and including areversely bent spaced, parallel upper end portion, a horizontal bracket on the reversely bent end portion of the rod, means for securing a lantern on said bracket, a reflector for the lantern mounted on the reversely bent rod end portion in upwardly vertically spaced relation to the bracket, said rod being rotatable in the sleeve for supporting the bracket with the lantern thereon outwardly of the gunwale, on the bight portion of the clamp or on said gunwale on either side of the clamp for projecting light from the lanternoutwardly, inwardly, forwardly or rearwardly, means for retaining the bracket in the firstnamed position, and means for retaining the bracket in the other positions.

6. The combination of claim 5, said reflector being generally U-shaped for embracing the lantern and having a plurality of light transmitting openings therein.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the last-named means includes a generally inverted U-shaped saddle afiixed to the underside of the bracket and adapted to straddle the bight portion of the clamp or the gunwale.

8. The combination of claim 7, the second-named means including a cam on the upper end of the sleeve, and a cam on the rod engageable and operable by gravity on the first-named cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 185,878 Vassie Jan. 2, 1877 914,047 Holcomb Mar. 2, 1909 1,894,146 Baker Jan. 10, 1933 2,458,967 Wiedenhoeft Jan. 11, 1949 2,813,196 Dempsey Nov. 12, 1957 2,952,432 Valdez Sept. 13, 1960 

1. A LANTERN HOLDER COMPRISING A CLAMP FOR MOUNTING ON A BOAT GUNWALE, A VERTICAL SLEEVE ON THE CLAMP, A VERTICAL ROD ROTATABLY AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SLEEVE AND COMPRISING A REVERSELY BENT UPPER END PORTION, A HORIZONTAL BRACKET ON SAID REVERSED END PORTION OF SAID ROD FOR SUPPORTING A LANTERN IN ONE POSITION OUTWARDLY OF THE GUNWALE AND ADAPTED TO REST ON THE GUANWALE FOR SUPPORTING THE LANTERN IN AT LEAST ONE OTHER POSITION THEREON, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY RETAINING THE BRACKET IN SAID ONE POSITION, AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING THE BRACKET IN SAID OTHER POSITION. 